What Sylvester Stallone has said about First Blood
3 quotes · 2 episodes · Sep 26, 2026 – Sep 28, 2026
Sylvester Stallone, American actor, screenwriter and director known for the Rocky and Rambo franchises; author of the memoir The Steps, has been quoted on First Blood 3 times in 2 episodes of On Purpose with Jay Shetty and The Daily, most recently on September 28, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Stallone says he rewrote Rambo from the novel's homicidal maniac into a man running from violence.
“When I took it over and started to rewrite it, I had him running away from everything, avoiding it, trying not to confront his demons”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: SYLVESTER STALLONE: “I Wasn’t Stupid. I Was Just Misunderstood.” (Sep 28, 2026) · Listen from 54:01
Stallone says the breakdown at the end of First Blood was not scripted and came from his identification with veterans who felt dismissed by their country.
“I really identified with this dismissive attitude that I grew up with. All the time”
The Daily: Sylvester Stallone Hid His Struggles for Decades. Now He’s Coming Clean. (Sep 26, 2026) · Listen from 26:49
Stallone takes responsibility for turning Rambo into a shallow, bravado-driven character in the sequels.
“Absolutely right. That's my fault. It's my fault”
The Daily: Sylvester Stallone Hid His Struggles for Decades. Now He’s Coming Clean. (Sep 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:10:07
Episodes
SYLVESTER STALLONE: “I Wasn’t Stupid. I Was Just Misunderstood.”On Purpose with Jay Shetty · Sep 28, 2026 · 1 h 29 min
Jay Shetty interviews Sylvester Stallone about his painful childhood, rejection, creating Rocky, his parents, career slumps, health, marriage and his memoir The Steps.
Sylvester Stallone Hid His Struggles for Decades. Now He’s Coming Clean.The Daily · Sep 26, 2026 · 1 h 17 min
Sylvester Stallone tells Lulu Garcia-Navarro about his abusive childhood, anxiety, bulimia and steroid use, his rivalry with Schwarzenegger, and career collapses and comebacks.
Sylvester Stallone on other topics
- Rocky (1976 film) · 4 quotes
- Screenwriting and writer's block · 2 quotes
- Rejection · 2 quotes
- Child abuse · 2 quotes
- Marriage and long-term partnership · 1 quote
- Aging · 1 quote
- Rocky Balboa (film) · 1 quote
- Forgiveness · 1 quote